Snap-on cover for pressure dispensers



Feb. 8, 1966 G. B. DIAMOND 3,233,788

SNAP-ON COVER FOR PRESSURE DISPENSERS Filed April 23, 1963 United StatesPatent 3,233,788 SNAP-0N COVER FOR PRESSURE DISPENSERS George B.Diamond, Glen Gardner, NHL assignor to Glen Gardner Corporation, GlenGardner, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 23, 1963, Ser. No.275,120 Claims. (Ci. 222-182) The present invention relates to a cap fora pressure dispenser such as an aersol can; particularly to a pressuredispenser of the type provided with an axially extending, elongated,tubular nozzle that is depressible either axially or tiltably to openthe outlet valve of the dispenser. More specifically, the presentinvention is directed to a snap-on cap for such pressure dispenser.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a snap-on cap for apressure dispenser, of the character described, which will be held inplace when upon the dispenser with maximum security and safety toprevent inadvertent or accidental depression or tilting of the nozzle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a snap-on capof the character described, which provides multiple air-seals betweenthe outlet of the nozzle of the dispenser and the exterior of the cap,to thereby provide maximum prevention of contact between the outside airand the end of the dispenser nozzle.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a snap-oncap for a pressure dispenser, of the character described, which, as itis placed over the nozzle will clean the nozzle from any residues thatmay have accumulated thereon during a previous dispensing, to therebykeep the nozzle in a clean and sanitary state.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a snap-oncap for a pressure dispenser, of the character described, which willremain in sealing contact directly with the nozzle even when the nozzlesettles lower in place and becomes foreshortened after pressure withinthe dispenser is reduced due to discharge of part of its contents.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snap-oncap, of the character described, 'which may contain within its storageplace for various types of auxiliary discharge nozzles having differentsizes and shapes of discharge orifices that may be used with and securedon the dispenser nozzle for various special purposes to thereby make itcompact and convenient to store and to find such auxiliary nozzles asand when required.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide asnap-on cap of the character described, which is of attractiveappearance, easy and convenient to put -in;place and to remove, and iseconomical to produce.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the snap-on cap of thepresent invention for pressure dispensers of the character described,will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from theembodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings .and from thedescription following. It is to be understood, however, that suchembodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principlesand practice of the invention more readily comprehensible and withoutany intent of limiting the invention to the specific details thereinshown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional and partly elevational view of oneembodiment of a closure of the present invention shown as mounted upon apressure dispenser; the latter being shown in fragment; with theauxiliary nozzle shown stored thereunder and indicated by broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the snap-on cap of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a blown view of the snap-on cap, shown in inverted position,with a pair of auxiliary nozzles ready for placement in the receivingcompartments therefor.

Referring now in greater detail to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the outlet andportion of a cylindrical aerosol can of a conventional type having anupwardly inwardly sloping flange, 12, forming a top 'wall with acircular center opening, 14, that is defined by an outwardly anddownwardly curving edge portion forming a beaded edge, 16. The can 10 isprovided with a conventional, inwardly extending, cup-shaped, circularclosure for its opening 14, generally designated as 18/ The closure 18may have the bottom wall, 20, and a slightly inwardly tapering sidewall, 21, formed with an outwardly and downwardly curving flange, 22,that fits snugly over the beaded edge 16 of the can 10, with its edgeterminating a distance from the surface of the sloping top wall 12.

The bottom wall of the cover 18 has an upwardly extending cylindricaltubular stud, 25,'at its center which supports an outlet valve (notshown), and a nozzle including a resilient section, 26, housing theoutlet valve and a rigid nozzle section 28.

The cover of the present invention, generally designated as 32, maypreferably be formed, by molding, of a synthetic plastic material havinga degree of inherent res-ilience and elasticity, such as polyethylene.It may comprise a cylindrical tubular body, 34, having a preferablethickened edge portion, 36, at one end, whose inner circumference willfrictionally engage on the outer surface of the closure flange 22, andwhose end face is feathered as at 38, to fit snugly against the slopingflange 12 of the container 10. The body 34 is provided with an inwardly"projecting, annular bead, 40, at its inner edge, arranged to engageunder the edge of the flange 22 of the closure 18. The body 34 is formedwith a closure or end wall, 42, at its other end from which extendsinwardly, integrally and concentrically therewith, a cylindrical sleeve,44. The sleeve 44 is of such length that its end portion will overlapand enclose a substantial portion of the end of the nozzle 28 when thecap is in position on the dispens'er, andis of a diameter to fitrelatively snugly thereover. The inner nozzle enclosing portion of thesleeve, 44, is provided with a transverse wall, 45, that forms a closurefor the sleeve. Preferably the body 34 may be ofsubstantial height toextend a distance above the end of the nozzle, 28, when in place on thecan 10, and the closure wall for the sleeve is preferably formed adistance inwardly from its end wall 42.

The nozzle'enclosing portion of the sleeve 44 is provided on its innersurface with an annular projection or head, 46, of a thickness that willfrictionally engage over the surface of the nozzle 28 as the cap is putinto place on the can 10 to form a vapor transmission barrier with thenozzle.

Since the material from which the cap 32 is formed is relativelyinherently resilient and flexible, reinforcing means, preferablyintegrally molded with the body 32, are provided for the sleeve 44. Suchreinforcing means may be in the form of vanes, 50, connecting the sleeve44 with the body, that are arranged in diametrically opposed relation.Such vanes may be four or more, in number, with each pair being sospaced as to form an enclosure or cornpartment adapted to receive andfrictionally held between them an auxiliary nozzle such as nozzles 52and 54, having differently shaped outlet openings useful for differentpurposes.

This completes the description of the cap of the present invention. Itwill be readily apparent that such cap provides sealing closures alongat least four points. Thus as the cap is put in place and moved inwardlyover the noz- 3 zle, the inner end portion of the sleeve 44 will engageover the nozzle and the'annular bead will frictionally engage againstits exterior and will not only form an air-tight seal therewith, but, inmoving inwardly thereover will also wipe out any discharged materialthat may have accumulated on the nozzle surface. Also, as the cap 32 ismoved into place, its inner end portion will contact the exterior of theflange, 22, to form a point of sealing and the head 40 at its inner end,will not only form a snap-closure or snapengagement by fitting under theedge of the flange 22, but will also form a seal at that point.Additionally, when in position, as described above, the feathered endface 38 of the body section 36 will be in contact with the slopingflange 12 of the can to provide a fourth sealing contact.

It will be apparent that the vanes beside reinforcing and rigidifyingthe sleeve 44 to maintain it in proper position for engaging over thenozzle, will also serve to provide compartments to receive andfrictionally hold, for compact and convenient storage, and also forready availability, the auxiliary nozzles 52 and 54; it being understoodthat instead of two pairs of vanes, providing two compartments, three orfour pairs may be provided, to thereby provide storage compartments forholding more than two auxiliary nozzles or other accessories.

It will be further apparent that numerous variations and modificationsmay be made in the snap-on cap of the present invention, in accordancewith the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth, and withoutthe exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to beprotected for any and all such modifications and variations that may bemade within the spirit of the present invention and the scope of theclaims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A one-piece cover for a pressure dispenser, said pressure dispensercomprising a tubular body having an opening at one end and a closure onsaid opening, said closure having an edge portion projecting away fromsaid body and a nozzle projecting outwardly from said closure, saidcover comprising a tubular member, said tubular member having one endportion of a size adapted to fit snugly against said projecting edge ofsaid closure and having an inner circumferential bead adapted to engageunder said projection, a sleeve supported within said cover in positionto fit over the end portion of said nozzle when said bead is engagedover said projecting edge of said cover, said bead engaged on saidprojecting edge with a snap action on axial movement of said sleevealong said nozzle, said sleeve closed at its outer end.

2. A cover for a pressure dispenser, said pressure dispenser'comprisinga tubular body having an opening at one end and a closure on saidopening, said closure having an edge portion projecting away from saidbody and a nozzle projecting outwardly from said closure, said closurecomprising a tubular member, said tubular member having one end portionof a size adapted to fit snugly against said projecting edge of saidclosure and having an inner circumferential bead adapted to engage undersaid projection, a sleeve within said cover, means supporting saidsleeve in position to fit over the end portion of said nozzle when saidhead is engaged over said projecting edge of said cover, saidsleeve-supporting means comprising a plurality of vanes connecting theexterior of said sleeve with the interior of said tubular member, saidsleeve closed at its outer end.

3. The cover of claim 1, wherein an annular head is formed on theinterior of said sleeve, said bead adapted to form annular frictionalengagement with the exterior of said nozzle. 1

4. The cover of claim 2, wherein pairs of said vanes are spaced adistance from one another adapted to engage and frictionally holdbetween them an auxiliary nozzle adapted to fit over said nozzle.

5. A cover for a pressure dispenser, said pressure dispenser comprisinga cylindrical container closed at one end having an upwardly andinwardly extending flange at its other end defining a central circularopening, said fiange having an outwardly and downwardly curved marginaledge portion forming a bead, an inwardly extending cupshaped closure forsaid opening, said cup-shaped closure having an outwardly and downwardlycurving marginal edge portion engaged over said bead of said container,the edge of said outwardly and downwardly curved portion of said closureoverhanging and terminating short of said tapering flange, saidcup-shaped closure supporting an outwardly extending cylindrical nozzleco-axially with said container, said cover comprising a cylindricaltubular body having its diameter at one end portion thereof of a size tofit snugly over the outside of said closure edge, said body having acircumferential bead on the inner surface of the said end, adapted toengage under the overhanging edge of said curved portion of said closureedge, and having a feathered end face at said end adapted to engageagainst the surface of said flange when said bead is caught under thesaid overhanging edge of said closure, said cylindrical body having acoaxial sleeve therewithin and means supporting said sleeve on saidbody, said sleeve of a diameter adapted to fit over the end portion ofsaid nozzle and having an annular bead formed on its inner surfaceadapted to form frictional contact with the outer surface of saidnozzle, said sleeve having a transverse closure at its outer end inposition to overlie the opening of said nozzle when said cover isengaged on said pressure dispenser.

6. The cover of claim 5 wherein said body is closed at its other end andsaid sleeve depends from said closed end.

7. The cover of claim 6 wherein a plurality of vanes connect theexterior of said sleeve with'the inner surface of said cylindrical body,pairs of said vanes spaced from one another a distance adapted toreceive and frictionally hold an auxiliary nozzle between them.

8. A one-piece air-seal cover fora pressure dispenser comprising acylindrical container, an outwardly extending nozzle concentric withsaid container, and a bead-like circular projection on said containerconcentric with said nozzle, said cover comprising a tubular sleeveadapted to be fitted over said nozzle by one end portion thereof andhaving a closure at its other end portion, said first end portion ofsaid sleeve having an annular rib formed on the interior thereof adaptedto form a wiping engagement with said nozzle when fitted thereon by anaxial sliding movement of said sleeve on said nozzle, and meansconnected to said sleeve for removably inter-engaging said bead-likeprojection when said sleeve is fitted over said nozzle.

9. The air-seal cover of claim 8 wherein said sleeve is formed of aninherently resilient synthetic plastic material.,:

10. The air-sealed cover of claim 8 wherein said sleeve is formed ofpolyethylene.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,767,888 10/1956Sofi'er 2221 82 2,831,613 4/1958 Soifer 222182 3,048,307 8/1962 Michel.222394 LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

1. A ONE-PIECE COVER FOR A PRESSURE DISPENSER, SAID PRESSURE DISPENSERCOMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE END AND A CLOSURE ONSAID OPENING, SAID CLOSURE HAVING AN EDGE PORTION PROJECTING AWAY FROMSAID BODY AND A NOZZLE PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CLOSURE, SAIDCOVER COMPRISING A TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING ONE ENDPORTION OF A SIZE ADAPTED TO FIT SNUGLY AGAINST SAID PROJECTING EDGE OFSAID CLOSURE AND HAVING AN INNER CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEAD ADAPTED TO ENGAGEUNDER SAID PROJECTION, A SLEEVE SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID COVER IN POSITIONTO FIT OVER THE END PORTION OF SAID NOZZLE WHEN SAID BEAD IS ENGAGEDOVER SAID PROJECTING EDGE OF SAID COVER, SAID BEAD ENGAGED ON SAIDPROJECTING EDGE WITH A SNAP ACTION ON AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SLEEVEALONG SAID NOZZLE, SAID SLEEVE CLOSED AT ITS OUTER END.